Dec. 4, 2013

Written by

Tammy Stables Battaglia

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

Nine pit bulls and six pit bull puppies are being cared for by the Michigan Humane Society, which is investigating an alleged illegal dog fighting operation discovered during a police drug raid in Detroit on Tuesday.

Law enforcement officers found the dogs during raids in Detroit and Harper Woods

, Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw said.

The raids were part of a three-month investigation with the state police and the Downriver Area Narcotics Organization (DRANO), a consortium of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. A 41-year-old Detroit man was arrested, and charges are pending.

“They didn’t know about the dog fighting until they did their search warrants,” Shaw said today. “You never know what you’re going to find.”

Officers found the dogs at the Detroit address, along with dog steroids and dog training and fighting equipment, Shaw said. He did not know the condition of the dogs when they were found. The Humane Society is handling all further investigation, he added.

Michigan Humane Society spokesman Ryan McTigue today would not discuss where the animals are being kept, their condition or the status of the investigation.

“Really it’s for the safety of all parties involved,” he said.

Between the two locations, DRANO detectives also seized two handguns, 114 grams of powder cocaine, 94 grams of crack cocaine, 35 grams of heroin, 33 marijuana plants, 311 grams of marijuana, cash and a 2008 SUV, according to investigators.

The man arrested is being held pending charges by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

The County of Macomb Enforcement Team (COMET) and the Western Wayne Criminal Investigation Section (WWCI) assisted in the investigation, Shaw said.